Alpine Europe: Austria & Switzerland with Sandra Ross

Countries

Austria and Switzerland

Highlights

Breathtaking alpine wildflower meadows at their peak of flower; we’ll see it all in this new tour of the Alps of Switzerland and Austria. It’s centered on four romantic cities steeped in tradition: Vienna and Salzburg with their glories of the Renaissance then Lucerne and Interlaken in the shadow of the mighty Eiger. Free time and a gentle pace maximize our enjoyment.

ITINERARY

Head straight for our hotel in Vienna this afternoon. Time to relax before we meet up for our Welcome Dinner this evening.Accommodation: Hotel AM Konzerthaus, Vienna

DAY 3 Wednesday 24 June 2015
Vienna (B)

A morning walking tour through the old city will reveal the secrets of the Habsburg Empire in UNESCO Vienna; Hofburg Palace. Watch the Lipizzaner horses go through their paces and Spanish Riding School and visit St Stephen’s Cathedral. Then wander through Volksgarten, the garden of the Hofburg Imperial Palace. Finish with coffee at Demel Coffee House, Vienna’s finest. Free afternoon to explore or relax.Accommodation: Hotel AM Konzerthaus, Vienna

DAY 4 Thursday 25 June 2015
Vienna (B/L)

Schonbrunn Palace is the beautiful Baroque Palace of the Imperial family. Discover it all as we wander through its vast Baroque gardens: Orangery, the longest in the world, Great Palm House, Gloriette, Neptune Fountain, ‘Roman Ruins’ and obelisk. Lunch in the orangery then a local expert will show us through the palace including the sumptuous Vieux-Laque Room with its priceless oriental lacquer panels, the Napoleon Room with enormous Brussels tapestries and the Porcelain Room.Accommodation: Hotel AM Konzerthaus, Vienna

DAY 5 Friday 26 June 2015
Vienna (B)

Belvedere Palace in the heart of the city is our destination this morning. Two exquisite palaces, Upper and Lower Belvedere are linked with a Baroque-style garden with rococo parterres that have been carefully restored. The upper palace exhibits famous works of Gustav Klimt including “the Kiss”. Finish in the famous Alpine garden with ornate conservatories of rare plants.
Free afternoon with the option to visit a string of magnificent parks that circle the city around its Ring Road. Burggarten was the original private garden of the Emperor. Stadtpark is a huge public park with its famous monument of Johann Strauss 11.
We will see Viennese Art Nouveau in its purest form here in Vienna; at the Stadtbahn railway pavilion, Karlsplatz, the central post office and the fine masterpieces of Otto Wagner who introduced the Art Nouveau/Sécession style to Austria.Accommodation: Hotel AM Konzerthaus, Vienna

DAY 6 Saturday 27 June 2015
Vienna – Salzburg (B/D)

A good dose of aromatherapy this morning in the rose garden in the pretty Biedermeier town of Baden. It’s Austria’s largest rosarium. Lunch stop then travel into Salzburg. Check in to our hotel close to the old city centre. Sandra will take us for an orientation walk into the old town to get our bearings. Dinner tonight is included.Accommodation: Hotel Bristol, Salzburg

DAY 7 Sunday 28 June 2015
Salzburg (B)

A walking tour this morning to discover this picturesque old town dominated by churches, castles and palaces: a UNESCO World Heritage site and the birthplace of Mozart. We will check out Fortress Hohensalzburg, the landmark of Salzburg with panoramic views of the city and Salzburg’s Residenz Palace. Free afternoon.Accommodation: Hotel Bristol, Salzburg

DAY 8 Monday 29 June 2015
Salzburg (B/L)

A day to explore the lake district surrounding Salzburg and the gems of Salzkammergut, St Gilen and St Wolfgang. Flowery alpine meadows and locations made famous by the film Sound of Music will make this day one you will never forget.Accommodation: Hotel Bristol, Salzburg

DAY 9 Tuesday 30 June 2015
Salzburg – Lucerne (B/D)

Watch the scenery of the Arlberg Mountains from the train window as we travel from Salzburg to Zurich then Lucerne. Boutique hotel in the heart of the city will be home for the next four nights. Dinner tonight is included in the hotel restaurant.Accommodation: Renaissance Hotel, Lucerne

DAY 10 Wednesday 1 July 2015
Lucerne (B)

Lucerne is a quintessential Swiss city. Today we will explore the well-preserved medieval Alstadt (Old Town) with its covered bridges, candy-coloured houses and waterfront promenades. Loved by Wagner and Goethe for its historic houses decorated with frescoes that line the picturesque town squares, in particular ‘Weinmarkt’ square in the old town. Free afternoon.Accommodation: Renaissance Hotel, Lucerne

DAY 11 Thursday 2 July 2015
Mt Rigi (B/L)

A ferry trip this morning on beautiful Lake Lucerne. Our destination is Mount Rigi, Queen of the Swiss Mountains. You will enjoy the view from the summit over Lake Lucerne, the Alps and the midland; it’s breathtaking. We will sail to Vitznau then take the cogwheel train to the summit. After lunch in the restaurant we will walk the Rigi Flower Trail to see alpine wildflowers and enjoy panoramic views. Back down in the cable car to Weggis and catch the ferry back to Lucerne. This will be a day to remember.Accommodation: Renaissance Hotel, Lucerne

DAY 12 Friday 3 July 2015
Mainau Island (B/L)

The Flower Island of Mainau is our destination today. Mainau lies on the south shore of Lake Constance near the German city of Konstanz and the German/Swiss border. A botanical discovery awaits; rose gardens, tropical greenhouses, Baroque palace and church, butterfly house, arboretum, floral cascade and palm house. We’ll see it all with a guided tour. Lunch is included.Accommodation: Renaissance Hotel, Lucerne

DAY 13 Saturday 4 July 2015
Lucerne – Interlaken (B)

We travel through the heart of Switzerland today; through the mountain passes, past jewel lakes to Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland. The city lies between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz under the watch of three mighty mountains, Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
Lunch stop in Ballenberg, an open air museum with one hundred original century-old buildings which have been relocated from all over Switzerland. Arrive late afternoon into Interlaken and check in to our 5 star hotel located in the city centre with panoramic views to Jungfrau.Accommodation: Victoria Jungfrau Hotel, Interlaken

DAY 14 Sunday 5 July 2015
Schynige Platte (B/L)

Click, clack cograil from Wilderswill up to Schynige Platte high above the tree line where the alpine garden is in full bloom. Meadows flowering, cow bells ringing and sheep grazing. Our local botanist guide will show us through the alpine garden at the summit. You will see edelweiss, gentian, poppies, asters, primroses and lilies: around 600 alpine wildflowers, all against the jaw dropping beauty of the alps: the Eiger (elevation 3970m), Monch (4099m) and Jungfrau (4158m) and below turquoise-blue Lake Brienz. A day to give the camera a workout. Lunch is included.Accommodation: Victoria Jungfrau Hotel, Interlaken

DAY 15 Monday 6 July 2015
Interlaken (B/D)

Free day to fill as you please. You have the option to take the railway to Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe at 3454m above sea level. This is the ‘top of Europe’. From Lauterbrunnen near Interlaken, we take the rack railway to Wengen and then further on up to Kleine Scheidegg. The north face of the Eiger is within touching distance! We’ll have time here for lunch, and to enjoy the world of ice and snow. We’ll visit the Ice Palace and admire the view overlooking the Aletsch Glacier which is Europe’s longest glacier. Travel back to Interlaken for our farewell dinner this evening.Accommodation: Victoria Jungfrau Hotel, Interlaken

DAY 16 Tuesday 7 July 2015
Interlaken – Home (B)

Sit back and relax as we drive to Zurich in time for our homeward flight via Dubai.

TOUR PRICE
Twin Share land only $11,295 per person
Twin Share including air $13,995 per person
Single Supplement $2,295
All prices in Australian Dollars. Prices based on minimum 15 passengers. Price is based on departure Sydney.

DISCOUNTS
Book and pay in full by 13/2/2015 to receive the Early Bird Discount of $350.00 per person off the final instalment.
Previous Traveller Discount $100.00
Garden Clinic™ Member Discount $50.00

At a glance:

Your host:

Sandra Ross

Sandra is a horticulturist, garden writer, broadcaster and popular tour leader. She has the very enviable task of planning new itineraries for Ross Garden tours, a job which takes her exploring all over Australia and the world. She ensures that well-known gardens are maintaining their good looks, seeks out lesser-known but extraordinary places and finds hotels that offer our groups affordable luxury. Sandra was behind one of our most popular tour developments – four night stays in cities so that guests can unpack and relax. Sandra’s spare minutes are spent in her lovely garden.

Ross Tours International

In Australia we offer short breaks, week-long rambles and longer wildflower safaris. Overseas, we lead tours on four continents. You can join a Ross Garden tour from Australia, or from Europe, America or Asia. We stay in luxury accommodation, and pre-arrange all bus, ferry or train travel. Local guides share insights into history, culture, and the best local restaurants and shops. Your Ross Garden tour leader is your personal escort. We take care of everything so all you need to do is enjoy your holiday.